Why would some
dogs need an indoor
potty option, like the
Train ‘n Praise? Dogs
may live in apartments
or condominiums, dogs
(or their owners) may be
elderly or infirm, and some
owners’ work schedules
don’t allow them to be
home frequently enough
for a dog’s comfort. Those
that travel with smaller
dogs will testify that using
pee pads in hotels can be
ideal. PetSafe also offers
the Pet Loo, a faux grass
pad with a removable
waste container below it.

“The key is positivereinforcement and keeping them close to the area of the PetSafe Pet Loo potty whenthey most likely need to go, says Tina Ingersoll, product manager for Plainfield, Ind.-based PetSafe. “Your dog can take their own potty breaks when you’re not available sothat it doesn’t have to hold it for too long or relieve itself on the floor. The PetSafe PetLoo is also a great solution for urban areas where people may not have yard space.”Another convenience and training aid from PetSafe is Skip To My Loo, a trainingattractant for any designated potty area, indoors or out. Its unique scent encourages dogsto mark where it’s been applied. Ingersoll says that, “the biggest tip is just to remember touse positive reinforcement when potty training instead of scolding.”If you scold a pet for not using the bathroom where its supposed to, it will becomeafraid of the new product and not want to use it. Rewarding and encouraging pets withtreats and praise will help you get much better results. It’s also important to be patient, asit may take some dogs longer to adjust new systems. Try to be consistent and superviseyour dog during training whenever possible, so that you can help guide them to theproper place to potty and be there to reward them afterward.

OTHER INCONTINENCE ISSUES

Sometimes there are physical or health issues that make incontinence a problem, and
there are ways for pet owners to deal with that reality more easily, too. Linda Jangula,
owner and inventor of Wiki Wags brand Disposable Male Dog Wraps, suggests that
there can be many reasons for incontinence, including lack of muscle development,
injury, infection, cancer, certain medications or surgeries. Fear, excitability and senior
years can also cause lapses. While a visit to the veterinarian is always directed first, there
are plenty of solutions in place to help pet owners.

“Regardless of the reason, these disposable diaper wraps prevent unwanted accidents,making for some very happy families,” says Jangula. The Lavon, Texas-based companydeveloped their Disposable Male Dog Wraps as one of these solutions. These disposablewraps need no other pad to be inserted and are stylish, with re-adjustable tabs that allowthem to be used several times if necessary. These wraps also wick the wetness away fromare to host in-storetraining sessions andproduct demonstrations,distribute blog articlesand quick tips via socialmedia, perhaps evencreate or find a videothat shows the stepsneeded to train a dog touse a doorbell to ask togo out and relieve itself.

“The pet parent maynot make an immediatepurchase, but may lookfor more information,”says Wien. “Making suretraining information isreadily available in store,with displays and signs,and online, with websitesand social platforms, in addition to training store staff tomake high quality, personal recommendations, is key.”Linda Zimmerman, breeder and exhibitor of LegacyOld English Sheepdogs, has seen many pups go to newhomes and believes, like Wien, that consistency andrewards are the keys to successful potty training.

“Take pups out after sleeping, after eating and afterplaying—every time,” says Zimmerman. “Take themout on a leash to keep them focused on the task at handand so you can be right there to reward and praiseimmediately.”Zimmerman cautions that young pups are not usuallyphysically able to achieve no mistakes until five or sixmonths old, when their bladder control begins to mature.

Puppies, and older dogs that haven’t lived in a house
or were never reliably trained, need to be taught that
not eliminating indoors, or eliminating in a specific
spot, is a normal part of house manners. Retailers have
a lot at their disposal to aid with that process, besides
advising on training techniques. The PetSafe Train ‘n
Praise Potty System uses an automatic treat dispenser
to encourage pets to use the connected pee pads. Once
a pet uses the pad, moisture sensors send a signal to the
unit which dispenses a treat. Keeping the pet confined
near the area especially after waking, playing, eating and
drinking is helpful.

Just as with any type of housetraining, look for cues
that they need to potty, such as sniffing around in circles
or whining.